Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-01-06


there are democratic members in cop-
gress to-day, who dare not do it, if Da-
kota asserts her rights in q positive
manner.
Writers in the constitution who are
opposed to territories setting up state
governments before they are admitted
into the union By congress, admit that
q time may come whom such an act may
&c lustifiable by the refusal of congress
to admit them. IT the time has not
come, will it ever come? We have out
grown our territorial garments. The
entire system is inadequate to
our needs. Our judges have four times
as much territory as they can get oyer
and bold terms of court. as prescribed by
law. Prisoners have been lying in Jail
in various counties for months and can
not get "a hearing. Our people are
butdened with taxation in support of
our schools, for want of our school lands
being brought into use. Had we been
admitted three years ago. our school
lands would have been sold ct high
prices and u taxes reduced. We are
at the Y of another rise in values; but
unless we make positive assertions as to
our rights, as Tennessee did, it will avail
us nothing.
Thara haa hann nnn karrtkprxr ~ kha
United States that formed o state con.
stltution and came into the union IN q
common sense manner and that was
Tennessee. They called a constitutional
convention, formed constitution and
elected state officers. Their labors we're
completed on the 9th OF February. On
the 10Th copies of the constitution were
forwarded to the president George
Washington) with a notification that on
the 2Sth of March, at which time the
legislature would meet to act on the
constitution, the temporary government
established by congress would cease.
Was Washington alarmed at
such proceedings? Not in the least.
He simply cited congress to its ordinance
of 1887 and held that they had an alb
sofute right to initiate proceedings and
form q state government. 1t never
occurred TO Mr.. Washington that the
people of Tennessee were in a revola.
tionary state. That Is modern idea
the outcome of democratic education.
But. say We, We will not be admitted
by threatening congress. We do moi
propose to defy congress: That would
be unwise. We simply propose to say
to congress- that your system OF terri.
torlal government is inadequate to our
needs and necessity compels us to 10y
aside your territorial cloak. Our prison.
ers are rotting IN our iails for want oil
Judges to hold terms OF court and de-
termine the charges against them Oul
people are burdened with taxation fol
want of the use of our school lands
Eastern capitalists refuse to make in
vestments 80 long a we remain q
EsEEitoEy and under the Eight= =hEaE
were guaranteed to us by
the treaty with France we must insis,
that we be admitted into the union ani
that upon a certain day we shall la,
aside our territorial government and Sci
our state government into motion. i
a new legislature is elected and the PEG
pie vote to set the state government il
motion on the first day OF January, 1885
South Dakota will be admitted befor,
the adjournment Of the next session O
congress.
The democratic party dare not 60 be
fore the people in the next campaigl
, with this question ON their hands, If
assert mi rights.
1t hes been we'll said that. congress
never goes through the country search
! ing for something TO do for the dea
people. Who 10 or whst is congress
: Nothing but the servants of the people
whom the people have a right to bid 81
to what shall be done and what shall no
be done. Where is the boosted Ameri
can freedom, the Wanted justice il
American i~nstitrtions, it q compeer
cannot be addressed in plain and I'M
%eqnivocal terms az to our necessities
What il we do off sud eougressa 1t cal
be no worse and may be much better
The home rulers in Ireland are off enc
. ing the English parliament, but what Z
. that? 1t is the only way their wrong
will ever be redressed. So long as Ire
I land was quiet, it did not OCCUR TO par
lament that something must be don
a for the downtrodden and oppressed. s
, long as Dakota is Indifferent IN
whether we are admitted or not, Just
!. long will congress be Indifferent to on
feeble cries and with impunity.
O. b. MYERS.
H.
FROM JUDGE OWEN.
J To the Press and Dakotaidn.
" DeSmet, Jan. 3-Dec. 81, 1886.
2 committee of the house at W~ashingto
submitted to that body the followin